AG's Office Says Board Of Selectmen Violated Open Meeting Law

STOUGHTON, MA — When the Stoughton Board of Selectmen did not announce that their meeting was being recorded for broadcast on the Stoughton Media Access Corporation's government channel, they committed an open meeting law violation, the Attorney General's office recently determined.

The lack of an announcement came prior to the board's July 11 meeting. In the ruling, Assistant Attorney General Kevin Manganaro wrote, "after notifying the chair of the public body, any person may make a video or audio recording of an open session of a meeting of a public body, or may transmit the meeting through any medium, subject to the reasonable requirements of the chair as to the number, placement and operation of equipment so as not to interfere with the conduct of the meeting. At the beginning of the meeting, the chair shall inform other attendees of any such recordings."

That did not happen at the July 11 meeting and led to a complaint being filed by Patrick Higgins.

Since the complain, signs notifying the public that meetings in the great hall may be recorded have been installed at the entrance of the room.

"We commend the Board for taking this remedial action," Manganaro wrote.

In a press release, selectmen Chairman David Sousa called the violation was only a technical one.

"In my opinion, it is much more significant that the AG's office in fact "commends" the Board for taking remedial action of posting notices.

The board will not face any penalties for the violation but was warned that similar future violations may be considered evidence of intent to violate the law.

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